Seahawks are starting anew

Dean Yoshiyama will experience a first when he steps under the lights

Sept. 8.

That’s the night Yoshiyama will lead the Ocean View High Seahawks

into action for the first time in the role of head coach.

He brings with him a new coaching staff, too, composed of Jeff

Anger, Diego Segura, Tommy Harris, Brett Brown, Beau Brown and Brett

Johnson.

It’s the first head coaching job for Yoshiyama’s at the high

school level, but his he has local ties.

Yoshiyama graduated from Marina High in 1986 and has been a

football coach at his alma mater since 1994.

He brought with him Segura, who coached the secondary, and Anger,

a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, from Marina.

He inherits a program that went 1-9 last year, has won five games

the last three seasons, and hasn’t had a winning season since 2000.

Last year’s offense was held to a touchdown or less in five games,

including three shutouts.

Yoshiyama , the school’s third coach in six years, is aware of the

program’s history, and is ready for the challenge.

“I wanted an opportunity to build a successful program,” he said.

That process begins from the ground up.

The lineup includes just four returning starters, three on the

defensive side of the ball.

Three of the four returners -- Chris Syfers, Aaron Valenzuela and

Charlie Pickle -- play both ways.

Syfers, a 6-foot-1, 235 senior, is an offensive lineman who also

plays linebacker.

“He’s a great team leader,” Yoshiyama said of a key player in

Ocean View’s lineup.

Valenzuela (6-2, 225), who Yoshiyama called a great athlete, also

figures prominently in the mix.

He also describes Pickle (5-10, 185), a junior linebacker and

tight end, as a “hard-nosed, old-school football player.”

Two other key players include senior Nguyen Nguyen and junior

Danny Perez.

Nguyen (5-8, 160) and Perez (5-11, 170), both play tailback and

defensive back.

Nguyen is a returner from last year.

Through early workouts, Yoshiyama has come to see the positives

with this current group of Seahawks.

“These kids work hard and have a great attitude,” he said. “We’re

going to take care of ourselves and see what happens. [The players’]

positive attitude and work ethic is their strength.”

Ocean View begins the Yoshiyama era Sept. 8 against Santiago at

Garden Grove High.

The Seahawks also play Century and Santa Ana before beginning

their final year in the current Golden West League with a Sept. 30

home date against Santa Ana.

They go back to nonleague play for an Oct. 7 homecoming game

against Magnolia, then play five consecutive league game to close out

the regular season.

Ocean View’s recorded its only victory in 2004 by beating Century.

At the start of the 2006-07 school year, the Golden West League

will be composed of Ocean View, Orange, Saddleback, Santa Ana,

Westminster and Segerstrom.

Current league members Estancia and Costa Mesa are leaving and

will be placed in a six-team league that has yet to be named.

New to the program, Yoshiyama is unfamiliar with any of Ocean

View’s opponents.

But he says to keep an eye on Westminster, the defending league

champion.

Orange also figures to be in the title chase.

Can Ocean View make some noise in the league race, and be in

contention for a CIF playoff berth?

“We hope,” was Yoshiyama’s response.

“Things are going really well so far, and the kids are really

working hard. This is a good group of kids we have here. This is all

new to them, so there’s a learning curve.”

For coaches and players, alike.

Colors: Cardinal, gold and white.

League: Golden West.

2004 record: 1-9, 0-6 league.

Type of offense: Option.

Type of defense: Three-four.

Head coach: Dean Yoshiyama (first year).

Staff: Jeff Anger; Diego Segura; Tommy Harris; Brett Brown; Beau

Brown; Brett Johnson.

Returning starters: One offense, three defense.

Returning lettermen: 12.

Returning with honors: None.

2004 results

*--*

21 Santiago 48

13 Laguna Beach 48

10 Century 9

0 Calvary Chapel 15

0 Saddleback* 29

14 Estancia* 21

22 Costa Mesa* 25

7 Orange* 46

0 Westminster* 49

7 Santa Ana* 35

*--*

2005 schedule

Thursday, Sept. 8 -- Santiago (at Garden Grove), 7

Friday, Sept. 16 -- Laguna Beach (home), 7

Saturday, Sept. 24 -- Century (at SA Bowl), 7

Friday, Sept. 30 -- Santa Ana* (home), 7

Friday, Oct. 7 -- Magnolia (home), 7

Friday, Oct. 14 -- Saddleback* (at SA Bowl), 7

Friday, Oct. 21 -- Estancia* (home), 7

Friday, Oct. 28 -- Costa Mesa* (at Newport Harbor), 7

Friday, Nov. 4 -- Orange* (home), 7

Thursday, Nov. 11 -- at Westminster*, 7

*denotes league game